Wirenet Image Band
wirenet.org mobile image band

Wire Journal News

  • Home
  • /News Categories
Subscribe to this RSS feed

Prysmian is awarded another EHV power cable contract from Norway’s Statnett

Prysmian has been awarded a four-year agreement, plus two optional two-year extension periods, for the supply of Extra-High-Voltage underground (EHV) cable systems from Statnett, a Transmission System Operator in Norway and a key player within North Europe’s power system.

A press release said that the contract’s scope of work consists of the supply and turnkey installation of 420 kV cables and accessories, which will be manufactured at Prysmian’s plant in the Netherlands (Delft). The order confirms Prysmian’s leadership position in the segment and underlines the partnership between Statnett and Prysmian. The award criteria were linked to climate and environmental impact of the proposal, together with quality, with Prysmian obtaining a maximum score.

“With this agreement we have taken a further major step in terms of growth, consolidating our leadership position in Europe,” said Marcello Del Brenna, CEO of Prysmian Europe.

Prysmian was awarded a €550 million contract in 2015 from Statnett SF and National Grid NSN Link Ltd. for some 950 km of submarine and land HVDC cable for an interconnector linking Norway and the U.K.

Read more

LS Cable signs framework as a supplier for multiple future U.K. national grid projects

South Korea’s LS Cable announced that it has signed a framework contract with the U.K.’s National Grid for the future supply of HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) cables, a massive project that will require multiple cable suppliers.

A press release explained that the framework contract was established to pre-select key suppliers before the commencement of individual projects and to create a long-term partnership. In addition to LS Cable, six other companies from Europe and Japan are involved. Specific contracts for other projects will be signed in the future.

The National Grid, which is responsible for managing Britain’s electricity network, has ambitious plans for large-scale transmission infrastructure in mainland Britain and the North Sea region. Over the next eight years, it plans to undertake cable supply and installation for 15 projects, allocating a budget of approximately £21.3 billion.

Through this contract, LS Cable will participate in upcoming projects, supplying and installing offshore and underground HVDC cables, as well as carrying out connection works. “Only six companies, including LS Cable, have experience supplying HVDC cables worldwide, making us the sole provider in South Korea,” said an official from LS Cable. “The current supply is insufficient to meet demand, prompting companies in various countries to proactively secure supply volumes.”

In other news, LS Cable announced that it and LS Marine Solutions have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with British marine engineering company Balmoral Comtec for collaboration on the floating offshore wind power project.

A press release said that Balmoral Comtec, a leading energy company, provides cable protection systems, buoyancy solutions, and submarine infrastructure for the offshore wind power and marine energy industries. LS Cable & System is the first in Korea to develop a dynamic cable for floating offshore wind power that operates stably even in harsh marine environments. “Under this partnership, we aim to collaborate with Balmoral Comtec to build a safe operation system for floating offshore wind power cables, optimized for extreme marine conditions.”

LS Marine Solutions Co. will support this collaboration by enhancing the installation and operational efficiency of the cables and ensuring stable maintenance.

Read more

Hellenic Cables signs agreement with National Grid for future HVDC projects

Hellenic Cables, the cables segment of Cenergy Holdings, has signed a framework agreement with National Grid, that secures its position as one of the appointed contractors eligible to participate in future HVDC cable projects across the U.K. and Europe.

A press release said that the agreement will enable it—and Jan De Nul, a global offshore installation contractor it has formed a consortium with—to participate in upcoming tenders for call-off projects for the design, manufacturing, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of HVDC cable systems as part of National Grid’s large-scale offshore and onshore transmission infrastructure investment program. This framework agreement, which has an initial term of five years with an option for extension of up to three additional years, is a key component of National Grid’s strategy to secure long-term partnerships that support deliverability for critical projects in the U.K.

The U.K. Government’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 has placed significant emphasis on expanding the country’s electricity infrastructure to integrate renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind. National Grid’s cable framework aims to support this transition, ensuring a robust and reliable energy network. This framework will play a crucial role in enhancing grid resilience, facilitating renewable energy integration, and ensuring energy security for the future.

The consortium will participate in potential future tenders for turnkey projects. Hellenic Cables is undergoing a strategic investment program to expand production capacity and enhance technological capabilities for its plants in facilities in Corinth and Thiva. 

Jan De Nul has invested in two cable-laying vessels that will make it possible for the consortium to meet the expected future needs stemming from the development of HVDC interconnector projects.

“This agreement strengthens our commitment to supporting the UK’s energy transition and offshore wind ambitions,” said Hellenic Cables General Manager Kostas Savvakis. “We are proud to be part of this critical framework, providing world-class HVDC cable solutions.”

Read more

Sweden’s Hexatronics reports plans to start making fiber optic cables in South Carolina

Hexatronic reports that the company will start manufacturing its fiber-optic cables in the U.S., with plans calling for production lines to be commissioned at its plant in Clinton, South Carolina.

A press release said that the company will also commit to additional staff and training at the Clinton facility. The new production lines are expected to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2026. “This is an important signal to our U.S. customers,” said Martin Åberg, acting CEO of Hexatronic. “We see an increasing interest in Hexatronic’s solutions ... (and we) are setting up production to consolidate our position as a local producer more clearly. We expect this to further strengthen our position in fiber solutions for the U.S. market.”

Hexatronic, which employs approximately 1,900 people globally across some three dozen operational entities, entered the U.S. market in via its 2022/2023 $55 million acquisition of Rochester Cable from TE Connectivity Corporation. In 2023 it inaugurated the Clinton plant, and in South Carolina, during the first quarter of 2023, marking a significant step forward in its U.S. operations. It made high-density polyethylene (HDPE) conduit materials, and soon, the scope will include optical fiber cable there.

“Production in the U.S. has become increasingly important and something many customers are asking for,” said Brian Riley, CEO of Hexatronic US. “This investment represents that last strategic move for Hexatronic to be able to offer a full suite of U.S.- made ‘Build American – Buy American’ (BABA) certified products to customers.”

Read more

Plans to build Middle East submarine cable plant are ambitious for company & country

Plans for a new submarine cable plant announced by Egypt’s Elsewedy Electric represents not just a Middle East first for the cable manufacturer, it represents the initial investment in ambitious plans to make West Damietta Industrial City—located on the north coast of the Mediterranean Sea—“a regional industrial powerhouse.”

Per reports in multiple publications, including Daily News Egypt, The Middle East Observer and Arab Finance, Elsewedy Electric plans to invest $500 million in the proposed submarine cable plant. It will be the first such plant in the Middle East, and only the sixth such one in the world.

Among those at the signing ceremony with port and government officials were Mohamed El-Qamash, CEO of Infrastructure Investments at Elsewedy Electric, Ahmed Elsewedy, CEO and Managing Director of Elsewedy Electric, and Amr El-Sawaf, General Manager of Egytech Cables. This initiative is part of the government’s comprehensive plan, led by the Ministries of Industry and Transport, to improve infrastructure and upgrade ports, bolstering Egypt’s competitiveness.

The Elsewedy deal, described as the first major investment in the West Damietta Industrial City, will strengthen Egypt’s role as a regional hub for energy transmission and advanced industries by manufacturing submarine cables that connect continents. The design of the factory calls for it to include one of the world’s tallest submarine cable manufacturing towers, exceeding 180 meters in height. Of note, 100% of its output will be exported.

The West Damietta Industrial Zone is part of New Damietta, which was established in 1980 and hosts the industrial zone adjacent to Damietta Port, a strategic location for trade and logistics. The factory itself will span 500,000 sq m within a larger 6 million-sq-m integrated industrial and logistics zone. The West Damietta Industrial Zone is approximately 15 km west of Damietta City, near the New Damietta Port.

Beyond the cable plant, Elsewedy Electric, through its subsidiary ElSewedy Industrial Development, is leading the planning and infrastructure development of the entire zone. Mohamed El-Qamash, CEO of ElSewedy Industrial Development, described the project as a groundbreaking model for industrial zone development.

Read more

SubCom to supply subsea cable system to connect U.S. to multiple countries/regions

SubCom has been awarded the design, manufacture, and installation of the MANTA system, a new subsea telecom cable system that will connect Mexico and the U.S. with Central and Latin America.

A press release said that Sparkle, Gold Data and Liberty Networks are the partners behind MANTA, which plans to improve traffic flow in the region by providing high bandwidth, low-latency routes interconnecting major data hubs in Mexico City, Queretaro, Bogota, and Panama City with the U.S. using new landing access points in Veracruz, Mexico, and San Blas, Florida.

SubCom will manufacture the fiber optic cable and other optical components for the MANTA system at its campus in Newington, New Hampshire, using open cable specifications that support up to 22 Tb/s per fiber pair (FP). All three consortium partners will access the northern portion of MANTA, connecting the U.S. to Mexico, and Sparkle will join Liberty Networks on the southern portion, accessing Panama and Colombia. MANTA, which will be approximately 5,400 km in length, consists of an up to 18 FP repeatered trunk segment.

“SubCom is honored to supply and deploy MANTA, which will provide a new reliable and resilient data route to a region that is seeing consistent demand for improved connectivity,” said SubCom CEO David Coughlan. “We look forward to delivering on the vision of the partners and making MANTA a reality.”

Read more

New England Chapter welcomes new year with great speaker and dinner

The weather may not have been overly obliging, but the New England Chapter’s Feb. 6 annual meeting and dinner was thoroughly enjoyed by the WAI chapter members who gathered at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The chapter welcomed its new president for 2025, Annaliese Sviokla, Gem Gravure, and thanked its 2024 president, Ryan Carbray, Alphagary, for a job well done. Also recognized were new board members David Roberge, Sjogren Industries Inc.; Sean Donnelly, Kinrei of America LLC; and Shawn Stavely, Gendon Polymer Services Inc.

Sviokla said that she was honored to head the chapter and pledged to carry on Carbray’s good work. She also thanked multiple people, including a friend and past chapter president, Lori Parent, and multiple Gem colleagues. That included President Paul Gemelli, who she said gave her every opportunity to succeed. “At our board meeting earlier today, it was joked that in the wire industry, when you’re in, you’re in. And after 17 years of wire and cable, I’m happy to say that’s fine with me because there’s truly no place I’d rather be.”

Carbray traced the highlights on 2024, which included the 30th Annual Golf Tournament, the largest to date with more than 160 golfers and attendees; the awarding of three college scholarships for $2,500 each; and the November tour of ACCEL International’s wire drawing plant in Cheshire, Connecticut; as well as last year’s annual meeting. “We owe a great deal of thanks to all of you who support these events. All the money raised directly supports the scholarship fund and allows us to continue providing these awards. Please give yourselves a round of applause,” he said.

The keynote speaker, Ramon Peralta of Peralta Design, proved to be remarkable. His discussion that covered multiple considerations of employee engagement was well received, as was the overall event. “Despite some snowy weather in Connecticut, the WAI NE Chapter Annual Meeting was a big success,” said Paul Gemelli. “I continue to be impressed with the quality of this annual event.  It was an excellent night of networking in a great venue with many industry leaders and professionals. Mr. Peralta’s presentation was very relevant and informative for me and my colleagues. Thanks to WAI for a terrific event!” 

Read more

Last call for abstracts for Polish technical conference to be held Oct. 14 in Kraków

Over the past 20 years, ACIMAF, IWMA and the WAI have produced numerous technical conferences throughout Europe. This time, they are being joined by Poland’s AGH University (AGH) to put on an event that will be held in Kraków, Poland, on Oct. 14, 2025.

The deadline for an abstract submission form is March 31, 2025. The form can be accessed online at BIT.LY/WAIABSTRACTS.

The Kraków location is most fitting as multiple members of WAI’s Poland Chapter have presented technical articles. A public university in Kraków, Poland, that was founded in 1913, AGH focuses on innovative technologies, and its research includes engineering disciplines, exact sciences, earth sciences and social sciences. Wire production is part of its scope.

WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll credits RichardApex’s Don Neville—who recently completed his term as chairman of U.K.-based International Wire Machinery Association (IWMA)—for encouraging a collaboration with AGH. That led to support from AGH Dean Tadeusz Knych, the 2015 winner of WAI’s Mordica Award and a long-time member of the WAI Poland Chapter, and Dr. Beata Smyrak, an AGH professor. “The group is working well together and of course, it is a pleasure to have a chance to work more closely with genuine supporters.”

Professor Jerzy Lis, the rector of AGH, is also supporting the one-day event that will see concurrent ferrous and electrical tracks as well as tabletops.

Attendees will be presented an in-depth view of the manufacturing advances in wire and cable research, operations and production. While some presentations have already been secured, the issued call for papers is for ferrous and nonferrous topics

 

 

Read more

WAI’s online training platform officially launched, to be showcased at Interwire

On Feb. 10th, The Wire Association International (WAI) launched its new online training platform, the WAI Education Center, a resource designed to support the professional growth of the wire and cable industry.

The early reviews of this innovative platform that provides on-demand access to expert-instructed courses covering essential industry topics have all been positive. The series makes it easier than ever for professionals to expand their knowledge and enhance their skills at their own pace. From foundational principles to advanced technical concepts, WAI’s training platform is built to meet the evolving needs of the industry. New courses on various subjects will be regularly released throughout 2025.

Attendees at Interwire 2025 will have multiple opportunities to explore WAI’s new educational content and learn how it can benefit them individually or their company at large. Visit WAI’s Resource Center & Member Lounge on the show floor to see the platform in action, ask questions, and discover a solution for workforce development specific to wire and cable manufacturing.

Finally, if you are at Interwire, don’t miss the final conference session on Thursday from 1:30 to 2:00 pm in the WAI Theater, where WAI’s Manager of Education, John Markowski will present “Empowering Industry Growth: Unlocking the Potential of WAI’s Education Center and Training Platform.” This session won’t just highlight WAI’s new training content—it will also emphasize the importance of having a structured training program in place. Whether a company lacks an existing training program or needs more comprehensive materials, WAI can be a valuable resource for onboarding new employees and upskilling the current workforce through continuing education.

Join us at Interwire to see how WAI’s latest initiative is driving industry education forward and empowering

Read more

WAI annual meeting at Interwire to recognize an Association success story

At Interwire 2025, the WAI will hold its required annual meeting on Wednesday, May 14. WAI President Eric Bieberich will preside, including a brief review of past and current activities.

The brief required meeting will also include the presentation of four Association awards: the Mordica Memorial Award, the Donnellan Memorial Award, the WAI President’s Award and the WAI Champion Award. For more details on these and other Association activity at Interwire, see the March preshow issue.

Read more

Contact us

The Wire Association Int.

71 Bradley Road, Suite 9

Madison, CT 06443-2662

P: (203) 453-2777